What has happened on the last three work weekends

We moved things to Great Gull Island from Connecticut April 26 and on April 4 brought gear from New York to the island.  The weekend of April 4 we had a south wind. dense fog and a large fall out of birds, identifying  76 species, see Joe’s list.  Having received funding dedicated to building two blinds, Bob Kane framed the blinds April 26 and completed them April 11 with help from those pictured below.  He put them in place using the tractor and we plan to build more as funding comes in this fall.

By May 4 there were 5,000 terns in (none in the last time we were on the island April 30) By May 11 there were scrapes and the birds were settling all over the island.  It is possible we will find eggs May 18.  On May 11 we finished fencing one of the gun emplacements so terns wouldn’t fall off when check during the season went through.

Recent news about bill color pattern of the Terns

These pictures sent by Stephen Newton and taken of Roseate Terns in the Rockabill colony show bill color changes during the breeding season in Ireland that are similar to color changes of Roseate Terns in the Great Gull Island colony.

Date: Most breeders in Irish colonies like this May and 1st half of June.

                                                                                                                                              

Photo : Olly Slessor

Date: June 23, 

Typical breeders in Ireland with small chicks

Photo:  Julie Baer

Date: July 29, 

Maximal extent of red on the bill in Ireland seen last 10 days of July (when shot taken) and early August.

 

  Photo Anthony Mc Geehan

The space shuttle Enterprise (photo was taken in Northern Manhattan)

In the morning of April 27th,  the space shuttle Enterprise was flown into New York City to eventually go to the Intrepid museum on the Hudson River. Before it landed at JFK Airport, they flew it around the city including up the Hudson River.

photo by Joe DiCostanzo

Joe DiCostanzo has a book out What’s that Bird ? It can probably still be found in bookstores, but the second printing will be out in June. Joe has also done a book for children, Spot the Bird, which should be out April 16. Both books are small, easy to carry and an asset in the field if you want to identify birds landing near you!

I just wanted to thank all of you who have emailed that you like the Great Gull Island website! Our webmaster, Utku Perktas has done an excellent job and continues to do so from Turkey!

Speaking of which, one of the things I like to check on the web site is the map on the main page.  I noticed today there are a total of 78 checks of the web site from Turkey with only two states, both in the US with more hits: New York State with 826 and Connecticut 94.  So far people in 22 countries and 31 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have checked the site.

Onward and upward and all the best for spring!

Cheers,

Helen

Recent news about bill color pattern of the Roseate Terns

Veronica Neves from the Azores reports that bill color change for Roseate Terns in the Azores is similar to the pattern described by Cormons for Roseate Terns on Great Gull Island.

Tony Tree reports from South Africa that the color change from black to red on the bills of Roseate Terns he studies is, “virtually complete, if not complete, at the time the eggs hatch.”

Roseate Terns, Sterna dougallii, have black bills during the nonbreeding season and acquire varying amounts of red on their bills during the breeding season. The timing of the acquisition of the red varies geographically and the amount of red acquired by individuals may vary within a season and between seasons (Cormons 1976). What is the pattern of acquisition of red on the bills of Roseate Terns in your area? Do you know a photographer in your area who might be interested in taking pictures showing bill color of Roseates when they arrive in the colony, and later pictures of the bills of incubating birds preferably on nests of know initiation date, and still later pictures showing the pattern of red on bills of birds brooding newly hatched chicks, and finally the amount of red on the bills of birds in the colony late in the season? We would certainly welcome pictures of this sort for the blog – so do take some and send them to us!

   

Picture 1

Picture 2

Roseate Tern bill color change in relation to nesting status and food supply by Grace Cormons in Wilson Bulletin 88 (3): 377-389.  Two color plates by Kathy Duffin based on pictures taken by Grace and her husband Matt Cormons during a watch at a Roseate Nest on Great Gull Island.

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For Roseate Terns nesting in Puerto Rico most of the bill turns red by the peak of the nesting season,  retaining only a black tip.

Picture 3

Roseate Tern from Puerto Rico, photo by Gabriel Lugo.

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Picture 4

Photo taken by Tony Tree.

Roseate Tern off South Africa

Tree took this picture in August of 2000 when many chicks just starting to hatch in the colony.  He reports that Roseate Terns off South Africa assume red on the bill prior to chicks hatching.

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Picture 5

Photo taken by Kiyoaki Ozaki, July 31, 2009.

In the middle of the breeding season on Okinawa the entire bill has become red.

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Anya Lilith Auerbach's article.